Improvement in wheels or pulleys



` SSheetsf-Sheet 1'.

BROWN. WHEEL 0R PULLEY.

Patented. Fe`n.1, 1876.

`3 She'etsf--Sheet 3.

E. BRoWN. WHEEL 0R PULLEY,

Eug?

' Mwexkw y N. PETERS. PHDTO-UTHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, DV C.

NITED "STATESPATENT rrro'n. f

EPHRAIM BROWN ,Y OF LQWELL, MASSAGHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHEELS oR PuLLEvs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 172,910,'dated-February 1, 1876; application tiled f December` 9, 18 75.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM BROWN, of Lowell, in the county ofVMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have inventedv certainfnew anduseful Improvements in Wheels or Pulleys, and in the means and processof producing such wheels, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents a plan ofthe mold with one of the wheels as constructed therein, the wheel beingshown partly in section'. Fig.2 represents a central cross-section ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 represents the oppositey end of the wheel seen in Fig. l,the face or outer end being uppermost when formed in the mold. Fig. 4represents an inner end elevation of one of my improved wheels withoutthe metal hoops, which in all the others form the belt or band surfaceswhen driven by or driving other pulleys. Fig. 5 represents an en delevation of one of my improved wheels, with thecounter-balance formedby'a cavity inthe rim, instead of a weight in the rim at theoppositeside, as in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 6 represents a central cross-section ofFig. 5, showing the counterbalance-cavity in one side of the rim. Fig. 7represents a central cross-section of one of my improved wheels asconstructed with a central rim and shaft, connecting and supportingplate of wood or other cheap material, and hwith a shaftand crankconnection of metal, fastened to one side of the wooden plate, thelatter secured to the rim by an inner hoop, and by pins passing throughthe hoop into the edge ofthe wood, and into the substance of thewheel-rim.

This invention relates to wheels and pulleys which are used inmachinery, and whose outer rims vare weighted or loaded to increasetheir momentum when they revolve, as in the balance-wheels used to drivefoot-lathes, jig-saws, or other machinery, where the momentum of therevolving driving-wheel is partially or wholly relied upon to retain themotion of the driven wheel or other mechanism, .or to carry a crank overits centers, the rim of the wheell being generally more heavily loadedat vone side than at any other part of its diameter, or made lighter atone side, so that when the uppermost, and the crank onor nearly on itscenter, and in a position to start or revolve y the wheel at any timewithout further adjust` f ment, by upward or downward draft upon thepitman or crank-connecting rod. v

` This invention has for its object togreatly reduce the'cost ofrim-loaded wheels, by constructiug their rims of cheap cement material,formed in a mold in a plastic state, and united to the centralshaftsupporting hub, arms, or plate, or to this and to metal hoops,which form the belt or band surfaces at the periphery, by the describedmolding process, the lmold, the Wheel, and the process each form'-l ingpart ofthe invention.

" This invention consists, iirst, of the mold constructed, as described,with a bottom plate having a centering-step, by which to centrally setthe shaft-supporting hub and plate, and its outer rim a segmentalannular rim of the size and shape to form the plastic wheelrim, or toreceive metal hoops for one or more bandsurfaces, and a clamping-hoopsurrounding the rim-segments, to bind and hold them iirm- 1y togetherand to the'bottom plate, rabbeted in its outer edge and `face to receivethe segmentary rim, the plastic Wheel-rim being formed upon the bottomplate, between the inner periphery' of the segmental mold-rim and theouter rim or flange yof the center plate, the vlatter rim or angeforming part ofthe mold.

This invention also consists of a weighted or rim-loaded wheelconstructed, as described,

with a central shaft-supporting hub, with arms or a plate, and an outerange, a rim composed of cement made ofplastic material, hardened ordried, and with bands orhoops on the periphery of -the'cement rim, madeof plastic material, and withan additionally-weighted side orcounter-balance of lead, iron, or other substance whose specific gravityis greater than that of the substance ofthe cement rim,

and molded into the latter While forming it, all substantially as andfor the purpose herein4 described.

Thisinventionalso consists of a weighted- Y or rim-loadedwheelconstructed as described,

the rim of plastic material, hardened or dried, and with its counterbalance formed by a cavity in the rim at one side, 'instead of anadditional weight at the opposite side, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

This invention also consists of' a weighted or rim-loaded wheelconstructed, as described, with a central shaft-supporting hub and aplate with a flanged periphery,a rim composed of cement made of plasticmaterial, hardened or dried, and with an additionally-weighted side orcounter-balance, whose specific gravity is greater than that of thesubstance of the cement rim, and molded into the latter while formingit, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

This invention also consists of a weighted or rim-loaded wheelconstructed, as described, with central shaft-supporting hub, and aconnected plate with a flanged periphery, and a rim composed of cementmade of plastic material, hardened or dried, all substantially as andfor the purpose described.

This invention also consists of a weighted or rim-loaded wheelconstructed, as described, with a central shaft-supporting hub, and aconnected plate with a hanged periphery, and a rim composed of cementmade of plastic material, hardened or dried, and with hoops or bands onthe periphery of the cement rim, all substantially as and for thepurpose described.

This invention also consists of the process of constructing a rim-loadedwheel, such as herein described, bymolding said rim of cement in aplastic state in a mold, upon a bedplate, and between the innerperiphery of the annular mold, or hoops therein, and the outer peripheryof the flange, on a central supportin g-plate, and uniting or connectingthe plastic rim with the flange of the plate, or with this and thehoops, all substantially as herein described.

In carrying out my said invention, I first construct the mold, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, with a bed or bottom plate, A, having a center step,B, by which to centrally set the shaftsupporting hub D and the centerplate F, with its liange H, by a center core or guide, E, passingthrough or entering the hole in the hub and the step.

The outer edge and face of the bed A is rabbeted, as shown, and aroundthis rabbeted surface, and against its annular shoulder e, the annularmold-rim segments I are fitted, and they are secured in position by anouter clamping-hoop, d, having ears d, and a clampingscrew, j'. by whichto draw the hoop tightly around the segments and hold them together andto the shoulder on the bottom plate.

The inner periphery of this segmentary mold-rim, in the presentinstance, is constructed with three offsets or band-formin g surfaces, mup, each of a different diameter, to correspond with the/ three cone orband surfaces on the lathe or other pulley to be driven by them, or toreceive the three metal bands c h i, the two first named beingwider thanthe offsets, and entering the substance of the cement wheel-rim S,whichis molded upon them when the rim is formed in a plastic state. The

hoops or bands c h i, when thus applied, form the band-surfaces of theWheel, which, instead of having three cones or band-surfaces, may bemade with a single band-surface, ext-ending entirely across the face orperiphery of the wheel, bysimply constructing the inner periphery of thesegmentary portion of the mold with a single band-forming surface, as onthe lines 3 and 4 in Fig. 2. The flange H of the center plate F alsoforms a part of the mold; and in order to form a rim-loaded wheel, suchas herein described, after preparing the mold, as described, and thecenter plate with a web, K, as in Fig. 7, or with arms L, as in Figs. 1to 5, inclusive, a shaft-supporting hub, l

D, and generally a crank-connecting hub, b, and an outer flange, H, Iplace the core or guide E in the hole in the hub, and then insert thelower end of the guide in the center step,`

which brings the lower edge of the flange H fair against the face of4the bed-plate. Lugs g project outward from the outer periphery of theflange, and pins c project inward from the hoops c h t', to becomeembedded in the plastic cement material, and thus to unite or connectthe hoops and the liange tothe cement wheelrim when forming it, and whenthe wheel is to be made with a counter-balance, or one side heavier thanthe other, I then place in the mold one or more pieces, g', of iron orlead, whose specic gravity is greater than the cement substance, andwill cause the wheel to y stop with the additionally-weighted si dedownward, and ready to vbe started instantly by the crank-connecting rodM, the crank-pin or hubb and the counter-balance g being arrangedrelatively with each other about as shown in Figs. l and 3.

Instead of the4 additional weight g', and as an equivalent for thelatter, I'sometimes form the cement wheel-rim with a cavity, N, in one Vwill perform good service, as the cementriln will be of sufficientstrength to endure all the strain and wear brought upon it. l

I sometimes'construct my improved cementrimmed wheel with a centerplate, F, of wood or other cheap material, but with a flange, H, and ashaft-hub, D, of metal, and fasten the flange to the edge of the plateby pins or nails q passing through the flange into the wood, and

projecting beyond the outer surface of the flange.

Fig. 7 is intended to represent such a wheel as last described, with itscenter hub and crankhub fastened to the face of the wooden plate.

192,910 I Y l i In this, as in all the otherl described modications ofmy improved wheel, the dange H forms a part of the mold when molding thecement rim.

The mold and other described parts being properly prepared and allplaced in their described positions, I then mix andl preparethe cementin a plastic state, say about the consistency of commonmortar or cementfor laying brick, and place the cement in the mold around the lugs,pins, and hoops, if these are used, and, if to be counterbalanced,either bed in the iron g or form the cavity N, and press and crowd inthe cement with considerable force until it is compact and solid. Themold and its contents may then be placed'in a Warm situation, where heatWill dry the cement rim, which may then be removed from the rim and bedof the mold by lirst removing the-hoop d and the segments I, and furtherhardened, dried, or baked to a great degree of hardness and strength.

The composition used for forming the cement wheel-rim may be varied tosuit circumstances and conditions. Common Portland cement mixed Withsand, gravel, pounded coalcinders, or other convenient material, is agood composition for the cement Wheel-rim, and calcined plaster, lime,clay, or other similar adhesive material may be substituted for thecement. Crude sulphur and iron filings or chips,

or any. ot' the other described substances, make -a good, durable, andcheap wheel-rim, in' the way described, first melting the sulphur andmixingin the iron filings or sand,rand molding the rim While the cementis in a heatedv state and plastic, butit'weighted on one side, lead maybe used for the counter-balance, or some other substance more weightythan iron and sulphur combined. A solid block of iron may answer thepurpose, or a cavity, N, in one side ofthe cement rim.

Thus it will be seen that a wheel or pulley constructed with a,shaft-supporting center plate and a loaded rim of cement, as described,

will be much cheaper than most Wheels of this kind or character, besidesbeing suliciently strong and durable.

I claim as my invention- 1. The rim-forming mold constructed, asdescribed,with a bottom plate, A, having a centeri11.g-step`,B, asegmental rim, I, a clampinghoop, d, having ears a, and aclamping-screw,

f, and the flange H of the center plate F, all arranged as described,for molding the Wheelrim S of plastic cement material.

2. A Weighted or` rim--loaded Wheel constructed,`as described, with aVcentral shaftsupporting hub, D, With'arms L, or-a plate or web, K, anouter lange, H, a rim, S, of cement made ot plastic material, hardenedor dried, with bands or hoops c. h i connected to the peripheries of thecement rims, and an additionally-weighted side or counter-balance, g',molded into the cement rim, all substantially as described. i

3. A Weighted or rim-loaded wheel constructed as described, the rim ofplastic material, hardened or dried, and with its counterbalance formedbya cavity, N, in the rim, substantially1 as described.

4. A Weighted or rim-loaded wheel constructed, as described, with acentral shaftsupporting hub, D, a plate with a flange periphery, H, arim, S, composed of cement made of plastic material, hardened ordried,and with an additionally-Weighted side or counter-balance moldedinto the cement rim, all substantially as described.

5. A Weightedor rim-loaded wheel constructed, as described, with acentral shaftsupporting hub, D, a connected plate, K, or

arms L, with a dange, H, and ai rim, S, com- 1 posed of cement made ofplastic material, hardened or dried, all substantially as and for thepurpose described.

6. A Weigh-ted or rim-loaded .Wheel constructed, as described, with acentral shaftsupporting hub, D, anda connected plate, K, with a ilangedperiphery, H, and la rim, S, composed of cement made of plasticmaterial, hardened or dried, and with hoops ch i on the peripheries ofthe cement rim, all substantially as and for', the purpose described.

7. The process herein specied of constructing a rim-loaded wheel, suchas herein dcscribed, by molding said rim S of cement, in a plasticstate, in a mold upon abcd-plate, and between the inner periphery of theannular mold, or hoops therein, and the outer pe-y riphery of a -tlangeon a central supportingplate, and uniting or connecting the plastic rimwith the flangel of the plate, or With this and hoops at the peripheryof the cement rim, all substantially as and for the purpose described. A

EPHRAIM BROWN.

Witnesses:

JoHN E. CRANE, WILLIAM R. CRANE.

